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how can one reduce noise without suppressor?

That MB vs FS thread got me wondering, what would be the best way to reduce the noise level of an ar15? I'm going to assume it will be a muzzle device of some sort, but ruling out suppressors, which muzzle device is best at doing that? Forget flash suppression and muzzle control. Just noise reduction.

Less noise to the shooter or others around? There's a difference. Also, it won't be much about the noise, more the concussion that you feel that you'll have any control over.

I believe anything that lowers sound 1db or more is classified as a suppressor, but I'm not sure if a baffle is required in that determination. The GSG 22 for a while had that barrel shroud that actually reduced noise by a decent amount (to my ears, never used a meter). There was an ATF mandated recall recently on those but since I never owned one, this is all going off of what my buddy experienced and info from the local class 3 dealer.

A can style brake, for example, will direct the blast forward which will seem like less noise to the shooter and those to the side than most brakes, but not sure how it compares to the A2 as I've never been fond of the ounces it adds out front.

Can I ask your reasoning on this? Is it just curiosity or are you looking for something that'll make a difference in home defense, range, etc.?

The answer is none. ANY muzzle device (FH or MB) that reduces the sound signature would be classified as a suppressor by the BATFE. Therefore, no muzzle device that isn't a suppressor will reduce the sound at all.

realllllly.. damn i didn't know that. I guess the noveske would be the best option? Even though it doesn't necessarily reduce noise, it directs as much of it away from you. I will need to keep that in mind!

Less noise to the shooter or others around? There's a difference. Also, it won't be much about the noise, more the concussion that you feel that you'll have any control over.

I believe anything that lowers sound 1db or more is classified as a suppressor, but I'm not sure if a baffle is required in that determination. The GSG 22 for a while had that barrel shroud that actually reduced noise by a decent amount (to my ears, never used a meter). There was an ATF mandated recall recently on those but since I never owned one, this is all going off of what my buddy experienced and info from the local class 3 dealer.

A can style brake, for example, will direct the blast forward which will seem like less noise to the shooter and those to the side than most brakes, but not sure how it compares to the A2 as I've never been fond of the ounces it adds out front.

Can I ask your reasoning on this? Is it just curiosity or are you looking for something that'll make a difference in home defense, range, etc.?

my reasoning for asking is, i guess, another one of those SHTF scenarios. I live in hawaii and we get all of our supplies by those huge freighter ships. I mean pretty much everything, like all the things that fill the shelves at walmart and whatever other stores you can think of are basically shipped by sea. So a real SHTF scenario could very well be likely if anything happened to our docks here. The earthquake in japan sent a tsunami to hawaiii and ended up damaging a lot of property on the big island. I live on oahu and we didn't experience much, if any, damage at all here, but who knows? It might happen one day. If something happened to our docks and ships couldn't get here to deliver goods, who knows what kind of looting would happen in the weeks to follow. We have a lot of meth users, punks and people who live in poverty here. If supplies became scarce, who knows what these people would do.

That being said, where i live is a very very urban area. Condominiums everywhere. Suppressors are also illegal in this state. So to be able to have a rifle to go to that will not destroy my eardrums if i ever had to use it one day in my urban indoor areas is something that i am considering.